Vedic Sixteen Sanskaars वैदिक सोलह संस्कार

Vedic Sixteen Sanskaars वैदिक सोलह संस्कार

“संस्करणं गुणान्तराधानम् संस्कारः” The आधान of qualities is called संस्कार.

Etymology of the word Sanskar(संस्कार) - The word Sanskrit is formed by suffixing 'घञ्' in the 'कृ' धातु prefixed to 'सम्'. According to Panini's sutra “सम्पर्युपेभ्यः करोतौ भूषणे”, जिनसे शरीरादि सुभूषित हो, उन्हें संस्कार कहते हैं।

भूषणभूत equilibrium is also called संस्कार. That is, the action by which body, mind and soul are good is called samskara.

In the words of Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati,

"Cultured body and soul can be attained to धर्म, अर्थ, काम and मोक्ष, and children are very worthy of being cultured. That is why it is very appropriate for all human beings to perform rituals. "

The Vedic Sixteen Samskaras are the creation of human life. The Vedas describe the following 16 sacraments for Aryas.

1. Garbhaadhaan sanskaar - गर्भाधान संस्कार (The Sanskaar of conception):

This takes place after the wedding, when the couple pray for a healthy and noble child.

2. Punsavan sanskaar - पुंसवन संस्कार (The sanskaar performed for the physical health of the foetus):

This is performed when the pregnancy is three months old. The parents pray for the normal development of the baby in the mother’s womb.

3. Seemantonnayan sanskaar - सीमंतोन्नयन संस्कार (The sanskaar performed for the mental development of the foetus):

This is performed at 4, 6 or 8 months of pregnancy. The parents pray for the normal mental development of the foetus.

4. Jaatakarm sanskaar - जातकर्म संस्कार

(The sanskaar performed on the day of the child’s birth.)

5. Naamakaran sanskaar - नामकरण संस्कार (The sanskaar of giving the child a name):

It is performed on the eleventh day after birth, the 101st day or on the first birthday whereby the child is formally given its name.

6. Nishkraman sanskaar - निष्क्रमण संस्कार (The sanskaar of taking the infant outdoors into the open air for the first time):

Done at the beginning of the fourth month. The child is exposed to the health-giving rays of the sun and there is a prayer for long life.

7. Annapraashan sanskaar - अन्नप्राशन संस्कार (The sanskaar of giving solid grain to the infant for the first time):

This is done between the ages of six to eight months, when its teeth begin to appear.

8. Choodaakarm sanskaar - चूड़ाकर्म संस्कार (The sanskaar of shaving the child’s head for the first time):

It is done between the ages of one and three. A prayer is carried out for good health and sound mental development.

9. Karnavedh sanskaar - कर्णवेध संस्कार (The sanskaar of piercing the ears):

It is done at the age of three, and a prayer is said for the child’s physical well-being.

10. Upanayan sanskaar - उपनयन संस्कार (becoming close to another person) (The sanskaar of introducing the child to the concept of having another parent-like figure, the गुरु):

It is symbolized by giving the child the sacred thread (यज्ञोपवीत).

It is performed between the ages of 5 to 8 to herald the child’s introduction to the teacher. The thread consists of 3 separate strands each symbolizing the three disciplines of life; knowledge, action(conduct) and worship of Ishwara.

11. Vedaarambh sanskaar - वेदारम्भसंस्कार (Ritual of initiating Study of the वेद and all branches of knowledge):

It is performed immediately after the Upanayan; in order that the child can prepare to seek progress in the material world, at the same time to become spiritually stronger.

इन विद्याओं के ग्रन्थ हैं - (1) ६ अंग: १- शिक्षा २- कल्प ३- व्याकरण ४- निरुक्त ५- छन्द ६- ज्योतिष। आधार पुस्तकें - पाणिनि मुनिकृत अष्टाध्यायी तथा लिंगानुषासन, पतंजलि मुनिकृत महाभाष्य, यास्क मुनिकृत निघण्टु एवं निरुक्त, कात्यायन आदि मुनिकृत कोश, ....आप्त मुनिकृत त्रि-षब्दार्थ विधि, पिंगलाचार्यकृत छन्द ग्रन्थ, यास्कमुनिकृत काव्यालंकार सूत्र- वात्स्यायन मुनिकृत भाष्य, आकांक्षा, योग्यता, आसत्ति, तात्पर्य और अन्वयार्थ सहित अंक गणित, वैदिक विदुरनीति तथा मनुस्मृति एवं वाल्मिकी रामायण।

(2) 6 उपांग: आधार पुस्तकें- १) जैमिनीकृत मीमांसा २) कणादकृत वैषेषिक ३) गौतमकृत न्याय ४) व्यासकृत वेदान्त ५) पतंजलिकृत योग ६) कपिलकृत सांख्य तथा इनसे अन्तर्सम्बन्धित दस- उपनिषदें- ईश, कठ, केन, प्रष्न, मुण्डक, माण्डूक्य, ऐतरेय, तैत्तिरीय, छान्दोग्य और बृहदारण्यक।

(3) चार वेद: आधार संहिता पुस्तकें-

ऋग्वेद

यजुर्वेद

सामवेद

अथर्ववेद

पठनविधि- इन संहिताओं में स्थित मन्त्रों को छन्द, स्वर, पदार्थ, अन्वय, भावार्थ क्रम से पढ़ना।

इन वेदों के पढ़ने में सहायक ग्रन्थ हैं- आश्वलायनकृत श्रौत गृह्य तथा धर्म सूत्र। इन की शाखाएं हैं- ऐतरेय, शतपथ, ताण्ड्य, तथा गोपथ ब्राह्मण। (4) चार उपवेद:- आयुर्वेद, धनुर्वेद, गन्धर्ववेद, अर्थवेद।

आयुर्वेद में चरक संहिता, सुश्रुत संहिता, भावप्रकाश निघण्टु, धनुर्वेद में अंगिराकृत लक्ष्यविद्या, गन्धर्ववेद में नारद संहितादि में स्वर, रागिणी, समय, वादित्र, ताल, मूर्छनादि का विवरण तथा अर्थवेद में विष्वकर्मा, त्वष्टा तथा मयकृत षिल्प के संहिता ग्रन्थों का समावेष है। इस के साथ भरतमुनिकृत नाट्य शास्त्र मिलाकर सम्पूर्ण सांगोपांग वेदाध्यायन प्रक्रिया है।

12. Samaavartan sanskaar - समावर्तन संस्कार (The sanskaar of graduation i.e. completion of education):

This is performed between the ages of 21 to 25.

13. Vivaah sanskaar - विवाह संस्कार (The wedding sacrament i.e. moving into the next stage of life of being a married householder):

The male should be at least 25 and the female at least 16 years of age before they enter the गृहस्थ आश्रम.

14. Vaanaprasth sanskar- वानप्रस्थ संस्कार

(The sanskaar of leaving household for a life or austerity):

It is performed at the age of 51 or at the time of birth of grandchildren. A person is now free to hand over all his family responsibilities to the next generation, nd instead devote himself to a life of living austerety, by performing meditation and charitable work.

15. Sanyaas sanskaar - सन्यास संस्कार (The ritual of renouncing all worldly attachments e.g. all wealth, family attachments and desire for fame):

The saffron robe of the सन्यासी is the symbol of a life of total austerity.

16. Antyeshti sanskaar - अन्त्येष्टि संस्कार (The cremation ceremony):

This is the last ritual and is performed.

॥ ओ३म् ॥